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Summary

Creator:

Smithsonian Institution Office of the Secretary

Title:

Records, 1949-1964

Dates:

1949, 1949-1964

Notes:

Bureaus and offices which were created or underwent substantial change during this period and which are represented here include the United States National Museum; the Museum of Natural History; the Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History; the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; the National Cultural Center, now the John F. Kennedy Center; the Bureau of American Ethnology; the National Portrait Gallery; the National Collection of Fine Arts, now the Smithsonian American Art Museum; the National Zoological Park; the Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center; and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Subject headings appearing in these records include: the Arctic Research Laboratory; the Armed Forces Museum and the National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board; the earth satellite program; the Canal Zone Biological Area, now the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; the Smithsonian's centennial; modernization of Smithsonian exhibits; the Link Foundation; the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics; the National Air Museum, now the National Air and Space Museum; the National Gallery of Art; the Research Corporation; the Century 21 Exposition, Seattle, 1962; the Smithsonian Science Information Exchange; and the Smithsonian Scientific Series

Summary:

These records document part of the secretarial administration of Alexander Wetmore and the whole of Leonard Carmichael's tenure. During this period the Smithsonian's capacity to carry out research in its traditional scientific disciplines was substantially strengthened. At the same time the Institution was able to invest much more effort in promoting cultural and artistic activities

Restrictions:

Use of this record unit requires prior arrangement with the Archives staff

Topics:

Museums--Administration, Satellites

Subjects:

Wetmore, Alexander 1886-1978, Carmichael, Leonard 1898-, Smithsonian Institution Administration, United States Arctic Research Laboratory, Link Foundation, Smithsonian Institution National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (U.S.), National Gallery of Art (U.S.), Research Corporation, Smithsonian Science Information Exchange, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Smithsonian Institution Centennial, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center, National Museum of Natural History (U.S.), United States National Museum, National Museum of History and Technology, Smithsonian Institution Bureau of American Ethnology, National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution), National Collection of Fine Arts (U.S.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Museum of American History (U.S.), United States Canal Zone Biological Area, Barro Colorado Island, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, United States National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, National Air Museum (U.S.), National Air and Space Museum (U.S.), National Zoological Park (U.S.), Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)

Form/Genre:

Mixed archival materials, Collection descriptions

Local Number:

SIA RU000050

Physical Description:

42.9 linear meters

Finding Aids to Official Records of the
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

These records document part of the secretarial administration of Alexander Wetmore and the whole of Leonard Carmichael's tenure. During this period the Smithsonian's
capacity to carry out research in its traditional scientific disciplines was substantially strengthened. At the same time the Institution was able to invest much more effort
in promoting cultural and artistic activities.

Bureaus and offices which were created or underwent substantial change during this period, and which are represented here, include the United States National Museum; the
Museum of Natural History; the Museum of History and Technology; the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; the National Cultural Center, now the John F. Kennedy Center; the
Bureau of American Ethnology; the National Portrait Gallery; the National Collection of Fine Arts; the National Zoological Park; the Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center;
and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Subject headings appearing in these records include: the Arctic Research Laboratory; the Armed Forces Museum
and the National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board; the earth satellite program; the Canal Zone Biological Area, now the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; the Smithsonian's
centennial; modernization of Smithsonian exhibits; the Link Foundation; the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics; the National Air Museum, now the National Air and
Space Museum; the National Gallery of Art; the Research Corporation; the Century 21 Exposition, Seattle, 1962; the Smithsonian Science Information Exchange; and the Smithsonian
Scientific Series.

Regents, Meeting, Jan. 18, 1957: Report on Federal Budget for FY 1958; Private Funds & Federal Appropriations; Statement of Gifts & Bequests for FY 1956 and from July 1 to Dec. 1, 1956; Problem of Salary of the Assistant Secretaries of the SI; Authorization Legislation for a Site & Construction of the National Air Museum of the SI; Plans to use old Patent Office as National Portrait Gallery & as temporary location of NCFA; Supplemental Appropriation for Museum of History & Technology Building; Agenda, Regents Meeting, Jan. 1957

Box 150 of 321

Regents, Meeting, April 4, 1957: Minutes of Executive Committee Meeting, April 4, 1957; Documents related to the special meeting of the Board of Regents of the SI held at the Supreme Court, Apr. 4, 1957; Memoranda (re: 4 types of new Building); Call to Special Meeting of Board of Regents of the SI

Regents, Meeting, May 4, 1960: Minutes; Call to Order; Report of the Executive Committee; Interim Financial Report of Nonpublic Report of the Secretary; Federal Employees Health Benefits Act of 1959 and Trust Fund Employees; Optional Retirement of Dr. Keddy; Report on Construction Progress of MHT; Report on Preplanning Studies for NAM; Report on Additions to NHB; Study of Old Patent Office Bldg. in connection with its use for NCFA & NPG; Brief Reports on National Cultural Center and Armed Forces Museum

Box 152 of 321

Box 153

Regents, Meeting, Jan. 13, 1961: Proceedings of Annual Meeting; Addition to NHB; Conversion of Old Patent Office Bldg. for use of NCFA as NPG; Report of Committee on NPG; Report of the NAM; Report on the National Cultural Center; Problems of Financing NZP; Proposal re: collection of paintings sponsored by industrial corporations; Gifts & Bequests

Box 153 of 321

Regents, Meeting, Jan. 13, 1961: Federal Budget for 1962; Notes on Hillwood and Minutes of 13th Annual Meeting of SI Art Commission-NPG; Preliminary Statement of Scientific & Museum Activities; Activities since printed report-Outstanding Events; Agenda for the Annual Meeting; Report of the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents

Regents, Executive Committee, Report of the Chairman of the Executive Meeting of the Regents, Agenda of Meeting and Proceedings of Meeting for Jan. 16, 1953

Box 158 of 321

Regents, Executive Committee Meeting Minutes April 22, 1953

Box 158 of 321

Regents, Executive Committee Meeting, Agenda, Minutes, Dec. 6, 1954

Box 158 of 321

Regents, Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, Agenda, Dec. 12, 1955

Box 158 of 321

Regents, Executive Committee Meeting, Nov. 21, 1957

Box 158 of 321

Regents, Executive Committee Meeting, Minutes, Agenda, June 18, 1958

Box 158 of 321

Regents, Executive Committee Meeting, Dec. 2, 1959

Box 158 of 321

Regents, Executive Committee Meeting, March 9, 1960

Box 158 of 321

Box 159

Regents, Executive Committee Meeting, Dec. 14, 1960: Minutes; Agenda; Financial Condition of SI; Consideration of the Investment portfolio of the SI; Question of Freer salaries; Approval of use of $150,000 of accumulated income of Freer Fund; Barney Studio House

Box 159 of 321

Regents, Report of the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board Meeting, May 19, 1961

President's Committees and Commissions, 1961-1963: Presidents Advisory Council on the Arts; Commission on Status of Women; Employment of Physically Handicapped; Immigration and Naturalization; Government Employment Policy; Retirement Policy; Water Resources Policy Commission; Wheelchair Contests; Committee for Water Resources Research

Series 7

Boxes 317-321

Using the Archives' Collections

The Smithsonian Institution Archives welcomes personal and educational use of its collections unless otherwise noted. Please cite the Smithsonian Institution Archives as the source of the content, and when possible, link to the Smithsonian Archives website (siarchives.si.edu). Please let us know how you are using our collections for your projects. If you would like to see a collection in person, please note that most records and special collections are stored off-site, so researchers should contact the Reference Team at least one week prior to visiting to ensure that records can be made available in the Archives Reading Room. For information on commercial licensing or other uses, visit Rights and Reproductions. More information available within the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use policy.